NRCS and California Dairies to Invest in Water Quality

The US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest about $11.8m in contracts with Californian dairies and other livestock farmers to implement water conservation practices as part of its Farm Bill conservation programme.

The project will also help farmers comply with regulations and manage the use of manure to fertilise their crops.

The fund is made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), and the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI).

The NRCS is working with Western United Dairymen, the UC Cooperative Extension Service, conservation groups and others to provide training and financial assistance to dairy operators.

The work is part of an EQIP-AWEP-CCPI effort throughout California that is expected to provide over $70m for conservation on farms, ranches and other private property in 2010.